Construction and method for repair of valves under pressure



May Z2, 1956 H. c. LAIRD 2,746,470

CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD FOR REPAIR OF VALVES UNDER PRESSURE Filed Dec.2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'il'll fyi i J5 al l@ May 22, 1956 H. c. LAIRD`2,746,470

CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD FOR REPAIR OF VALVES UNDER PRESSURE Filed Deo.2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www@ 45 ,25a/ew?? United States Patent@ mem'ICONSTIIRUCTION AN D METHODFORf-REPAIRMF `VALVES.UNDER PRESSURE YtaHuixert C. Laird;OalcPark, Ill.,=.fassignon toCraneCo., v

. `Cl1icago;.1ll.,a corporationcfylllinois Application lDecember2;-t1954; SerialNo. 47723591;

` `tifClaims.'` (Cl. 13.75.415)l :This invention relates generally to anovel valve con struction' and' more particularly pertains. to .a means`fol.' therepair of valves under pressure.

I n o o-pending applications, Serial No.` 44723199, iled December; Lf1'954, an'd`.Ser'ial' No.2 472',67`6',1led` Decemi be"1"2,"`1'954`,yinventions relating to' means for replacing brokenvalve stems when stemfailure occurrediwith the,` closure in either .the upper or lowerpositionswere presentedf In" each instance, means4 was prvidedthrough.the bottom 1 of'k the. valve for securing and locking the valve closuremember in th lower sealedj position or foriirst. drawing theclosuremember into this position, prior to locking't it therein for removalfofthe bonnet.. under. pressureand' replacementv of the valve stem.` Re',-piacernentY of bearings and other partsA and repacking oi the valve canalso be accomplishedin rthis manner.`

Should a 'portion' ofthevalve. become damaged' or,l failaiwhichxcannotbe replaced in this manner, however,E as for vinstance the valve disc orone `of its. p'arts or the` nur throughwhich a non-rising stem maybethreadjed; itis evident that another method or sorne other means will"benecessary to permit replacement' of these latter p'artswith thevalveunder full line pressure.`

Yficcording to the present; invention, aiuidkti'ght casf` ing; orhousing is placed.1A over .the .bonnet of the. valve toI be repairedin'uidti'ght'engagement with, the. body tlereofand the'bonnet, valve'stem and attached disc caused to be pulled fromthe. body and 'into aportion ofthecasingbeyond a` close oivalvef which whenshutperrnitsopenirrg of that portion of' the casing and removal. of thevalve lparts for repair or replacement' thereofl Thepartsi may;`ofcourse, be reassembled by the reverse process.

Itisrtherefore ai'principal object of this invention to provide for theremoval and ,replacement of valve closures and otherpartsunderfullxline' pressure or,( where repair ofthevalve isyimpossible, thestemandLbonnet may be replaced, orwpreferably' the .valve bodyicappedl,without return of theparts4 to, provide for free uid iiow through thevalvef'casing. *y "tOthe-objects-andfadvantages will become more redilyapparent` upon proceeding with .the spciiicationreadj in light-v of theaccompanying drawing,j in` which Fig-L 1y is a view 'partly'- insectionof a .valve to'be repaired-with partofn the equipment ofi this,invention in' mounted relation' with 4the valve. y

Zis acrosstsection, takenion line 2,-2 of Fig. l. AFig 3 isa` View'similar to Fig., 1; but showing further equipment mountedon-thevalveand` the bonnet, valvev stemandi disc` of the latter in apartlypulled"condtiom:

*Referring more particularly: to theA drawing; 1" is` aconduitftypegatevalve to which the construction of" the presentinventiony is-applied'; as hereinafter will be. exv p'l'ained forremoval" v-andi ,replacement of" internal .parts under-pressure; l .t

Thee'said'* valve comprises a body Zithroughwliicli, extendsv the owpassage 5 and' at each endof 'which are-'provided anges 7 for connectionto th'e'iianges 81 off a pipeline 9 byany Vsuitable-means, s'uchva'sblting;

orb-clamping. f i Intersecting-theflow passage is the-:valveY chamber6::extending intothefbonne't 3 secured to? the topi ofztheszbodybyfzmeanso theithreaded bonnetring which extends. the non-'risingrthreaded steril 28..mounted;

through the top 'of the.bonnet and. rotatable^ by...me,ans, of ahandwlreel (not shown) normally, mOun'IedoILIhe threaded` upper end" ofthe, said-"valvel stern a'tj. It is. obvious. that`- upon rotation, of,the handwhee1,`. thervalve:

sternisturnedjeff'ecting reciprocal movement ofthe outer.

valve parts, 12 an'df13 .through therengagjng nutelement and that thisin turn carries the floating wedgenmemher. ltherealongin reciprocalmovement. y

Details' of' thistypecf gate construction are' disclosed.

it may briey be 'stated'. that. the. outer.' flat parallelfaces.,v1'4and 15of the valve parts` 12A and. 13. are'ad'apledto.seatagainstVthe parallel seat;` surfaces 8f 0f,.t11e.li0d$gf1 2'.V

. These surfaces'. although` shown on separataseatrings. threadedlyreceived' within the body.may.0 CDLlISe,T be..

on.integ` ral portions' of th'e body. 1.011, the. other -hande iioatingpor' plunger.` `type seat. rings may-,heemployedr the upstream" ringbeing actuatedr against. ,the-.valvelnisc which. may bea iiatj plate.of' constant,.'tlicknes..byline. pressure, the seat-ring s.. beingsealedfwithin die b0d'y.by.f`

16,2 of the valve` illustrated. iSi Provided v'vitlf)` upper: and` lowerwedge surfacess19 an'd'Z;nespctive1y,.f0nengag:r

.. ment with corresponding wedge surfaces. 2l. nd`22:f0f the. valve part13` vfor sidewardexpansion'.oiitttheavalne;

disc .111 in' either extremity off reciprocal movement.: thereof;l Moreparti'cularly,jwhenjthegate. member; is. moved downwardly for valveclosing, the bottomoflhe floating wedge. part 16 first contacts a,.stop'23..in.fthe bottom of the body which arrestsifrthermovement, V whilethe outer parts412' and' 13 are, further forcedadownwardly past( theinner valve partiby' the actiontofnthe..

valve stem and nut whereby `a wedging action.. isriiuifv t1'ated`between the upper wedge surfaces 19nand 21.015- the 'intermediate partand outer 'valfve partjlvf'ljhis. wedging action obviously providestransverse. spreading. inelect forcingbothcf thel .valveA parts 12andalsout? wardly; into uiclI ltight engagement wthktheafotesaid; seatYsurfaces 8 of the body.

.EorvalveopeningQ the valve stemA i`srotated,.in.the opposite directionwhich trstflifts` thenut 'element 24,.

intocontact with; the topof. the .s'lo ts"25nd then. forces theoutervalve parts 12 and' 13 upwardly;'releasing'.the,

vvedgirrgI force and permitting collapsefofl thevalvendiso:

withv the help of.' the uid pressure acting .011. tlleside.` oi thedisc. Continued upward movemeneraises the .discl in the'collapsedcondition .until` the. upper. projects. on. each side of the floatingwedge part, (onlynonbeingg shown andA identiiied 26')V makes contact.withi,.thetop of. the valve chamber at whichY timel the-intermediate oroatngwedge, part is again arrested',y in..its-m0ven1ent;, while theouter partsl'12` and"13 are forced,...this timempf. wardly to initiatewedging1 action between `1h eltuvel.wrdgJ- ing, surfaces of `theintermediate. part y and,.o,l.1tenv part; 13.A producing similarexpansion. to. thatalreadynescribed; in:V

connection with the "downward movement-with..the..port; 28'` instraight. through fluid. tightregistry .withtlecowf passage 5' of thebody. To completetthevalve constitue tion,. pressure platesj`29l areprovided.one at each! side.A

ofthe valve disc, "which are resilie'ntly heldinfcontacii.

therewith for Vremovingv the excess vlubricantfrom.the.

sidesofA the disc and preventing leakage within the `lsltw A p1ug"30 isalsoA employed in;A tleiottonr'oi y the bodyiwhichimay be' removedI forinsertion of, a. l'ock;v x ing boltf or element inl accordancerwitlmeco-pending" passage.

l, Eatented Maya 22, 195.6

application Serial No. 472,499, filed December 1, 1954,

above referred to, which engages a threaded recess 31 in the bottom ofvalve part` 13 for securing the closure member preferably in thelowermost fluid tight expanded position, while permitting removal of thebonnet and certain valve parts under pressure.

AIn co-pending application Serial No. 472,676, also referred to, aspecial construction was provided which was attachable to the bottom ofthe body for removal o f the plug l30 under pressure and subsequentengagement of the threaded socket or recess 31 in the bottom of valvepart 13 when the valve disc should be at a position other than thelowermost closed position for pulling of the valve disc into saidlowermost fluid sealed condition and locking the same therein forremoval of the bonnet and subsequent replacement of the valve stem andcertain other parts as covered in the application.

As pointed out in the preamble, these two co-pending cases are concernedprimarily with the replacement of broken valve' stems and bearingsvoccasioned by the valve operator forcing the`valve as by the applicationof a bar orj wrench to the handwheel and with repacking of the valvewhere ordinary packing is employed, However, the above items are not theonly ones liable to fail or require replacement. Use of a bar or wrenchalso exerts great stress in the nut element 24 tending to shear theears, strip the threadsror otherwise fracture the member. The discvitself is subject to high stress especially when great eifort'is beingmade to break it loose from a condition of sei'lzurefor sticking ascaused by long periods of disuse, corrosion or otherwise which oftenresults in failure. Should injury or failure be sustained by either thenut member or disc or, if it is desired to remove the same forinspection, it is rather obvious that the methods advanced in thesaidcopending applications cannot be resorted to, sinceinsuflicientclearance is present for removal of the n ut member without the discVand the above methods require'the disc forsealing off the pressureprior to removal of the bonnet.

The present invention therefore provides for the removal ofl additionalinternal valve parts including the disc itself, under full linepressure. This is of special importance inltheloil and gas well wellhead connections where such provisions are desired for valves used asthe bottom orsole master valve or a wing valve having no cut-off pointbelow the same in what is termed a Christmas tree construction. `Withoutsuch provision, it would be necessaryV ytov kill the entire well, anextremely costly as well as'risky operation as far as getting the wellto redeliver, shouldvalve failure or inoperability occur. Y.

Toaccomplish such' removal of internal parts under full Well pressurefor instance for repair or replacement of the said parts, a specialconstruction generally designated 35 is employed. This constructionaccording to the present inventioncomprises inner and outer take upmeans,"shown in the/drawing as inner and outer turnbuckle meansdesignated -36 and 37', respectively, although single eye bolts and nutsmay be employed ifl desired for take up purposes. The preferredturnbuckle means comprise upper and lower eye bolts 38 and 39 and 40 and41 and turnbuckles ork nutsy 43 and 44 for the inner and outer setsrespectively. The o uter turnbuckle means are secured to the valve bodybyl means of ring clamps 45 formed of two halves held together by bolts46, the eye of the eye bolts 41 being received between the halves, theupper bolts extending through the eyes. Actually, the ring clamps extendover the flanges 8 of the adjacent pipe sections, as shown, althoughthey may be adjusted to grip the flanges of the valve' body only. Theinner turnbuckle means on the other hand are secured to the valve bodyby means of the clamp 49 'extending around the lower part of the body asshowin.,v This clamp comprises two halves as before, the halves beingheld together in this instance by pairs of bolts at eachA end.` vTheouter bolts 50 of each pair extend through the eyes of the eye bolts 39,the ends of each of 4 the clamp halves being spaced from each otheroutwardly of the inner bolts 51 for reception of the ends of the 'eyebolts. Both the inner andjouter turn buckle means are connected at thetop to tie bars or clamps 53 and 54 extending between the pairs of turnbuckle means by means of bolts 55. The ends or heads of the upper eyeboltsy are actually received Withinthe slots 56 at each end of the tiebars. These tie bars, which are identical are adapted to extendk aroundand tightly grip a shaft 'or auxiliary stem member 57 extending from ahollow tubular member 58 that is welded or otherwise secured to the topof the bonnet for the purpose to be explained later. The tie bars aresecured in tight engagement with the auxiliary stem member by means rofthe set-in portions 59 which are aixed to the main portion of the tiebars by means of bolts 60, one on each side of the central recess orbore 61 through which the stem member passes. The tie bars or crossmembers with their respective turnbuckle means are set at a slight anglewith respect to each other as clearly appears from the drawing so as notto create interference therebetween.

In installing the construction disclosed up to this point, the handwheelof the valve (not shown) is removed from its normal position at theupper end of the valve stem and the tubular member 5S inserted over thevalve stem and welded in place to the top of the bonnet 3 at 64'. Thestem member 57 can then be attached to the top of the tubular member bymeans of the threaded connection at 65. The inner set of turn bucklemeans are next connected to the valve body by means of the clamp 49 andsecured to the tie bar 53 at the top, which tie bar is tightened ontothe stem member 57 by means of bolts 60 in clamped relation, as shown inthe drawing. The turnbuckles 43 are then tightened to take up loosenessof connection and to apply a downward force or load on the top of thebonnet through the stem member 57 and the lower piece 5S. The bonnetring 4 can now be safely unscrewed from the valve body 2 and slipped upover the members 58 and 57 to a position just below the tie bar 53. Theouter turnbuckles are then attached to the valve body by means of theclamps 45 and secured at the top to the tie bar 54 which is tightened inclamped engagement around the stem member 57 below the bonnet ring. Theupper tie bar 53 may now be disassembled and moved to one Side, afterthe turnbuckles 44 are tightened to apply a downwardload on the bonnetfor removal of the bonnet ring over the top of the stem member 57. Theturnbuckles 43 are preferably loosened before disassembly of the uppertie bar to remove the load therefrom.

The next step to be achieved is the assembly and mounting of the fluidtight housing generally designated 69, also part of the specialconstruction 35, on the upper end of the valve body 2 in fluid tightrelation therewith and extending over the bonnet 3 and tubular member58. This housing comprises a lower tubular flanged. member 70threadedlyy engageable with the threads 71 ofthe valve body, a suitablegate valve member 72 having a port diameter preferably of the same sizeand not less than the inside diameter of the flanged member and an upperhollow member or means 73 attachable to the valve member by means ofbolting in similar fashion to the bolted connection of the lower memberto the valve member at 74. Althoughrthe upper hollow member is shown asconstituting a single section or piece, it may of course be built up ofmore than one piece,l The upper member is provided with a stuiiing box75 for fluid sealed engagement around the stem member 57. The fluidtight housing 69 may be assembled ahead of time and slipped onto theupper partv of the stem member 57, the valve member 72 being in openposition, with the lower tie bar 54 in clamped position on the stemmember. Or, each of the three pieces, that is, the lower member 70, thevalve memberL 72 and the upper member 73 may beso placed on the stemmember above the lower tie bar one-at a time in the order named to beassembled together when movedpast the mounted l,szmarately, thisprocesa, of course,.emust befrepeated. foraeachamember. l After A'the-v`first` member has .beemmoved-into positioni andzthreaded onto the`vvalve body,; the.I lower.. tie,- han must, of. -courseiebe reassembledand secured in, ,tight engagement. withtthe stemwmember with the properturnbuckles tightenedlwhilefltheupper-tie bar; is fremdvedfonplacement'of theneXt-part/on'the stem memberrahovefthe--lowerf tie bar,the cycle then beingcom plete. The controllingtfaoton as-toiwhether thehousing 691ca-n, be Y1no,ve dipasttthe tie bar-s. as a` completeassembly or.y ase,separate.` pieces.- for subsequent `assembly of coursedependson the'space available between the ipoints. of at,- tachment :forthe `-upper -and 1lower` ,tie bars.

.f Whenfthe housing,.69.. has. beensmounted,.oufthetop of the valvebody, beingsornountedI in` fluid;V tight'trelation thereon, by ymeansofythe-O-r,ing79; received within the annular .relief or notchtl at thelower end of the housing member.70 -and engaging, an annular surface,extending around the body` below .the threads;71 both. of the tie barsy53 ,and .5 4 .areloosened fromfrthestemfmember S7 and, upwardI oroutward Vforce issapplied to the -latter Vby any. suitable means I (notshown)` so as. to: pull the valve bonnet .3,which is secured tothe.bottom ofthertubular membentby means ofthe welding at64 away fromthebody .2. and-.upwardly beyond the valvemember- 72. 'Ihe Iattenvalvemember is', then placed inl-,the closed position, sealingfoff ftheinternal pressure of.` the valve 1 andthe pontioxr` of. the housing@vbelowthe closurefmember- 77, a-,ter which'.theupperl housng,member 73ais: removed romtheivalve member 72by unloosening ofthe bolts or capvscrewsJ. The bonnet Sand lower tubular member 58. may thenl beaunscrewedfrornfthe `stem member 57 and removed; from. the upper housingmember.'A-bleedvalve 83ais`p.,.referably provided whichashould, ofcoursewbeopened .preparatory to lthe separation of the joint bet-Ween 4the upperhousingmember- `andvalve member sogas to relieve .theL entrapped-tpressure within. -thepupper part of thevhousing..

. r If Vthevalve .stem landthe otherinternal partsrof the valve.. tobe.disassembledand repairedl'are intact upward force.,onthte stem member 57should pull the valve closure 1.1loose `from withinethervalve body 2,such as shownl in Fig.t 3. vI=n.,thisca se, thelength oftheupper member73 of.thehousing or it .should besaid thef.length.offthe housingwabovefthe closure 77;,4 should bef long, enoughx` to receivelfthe, valvebonnet, stem and .closureunit of,-the valve to befrepaired.. Afterremoval ofthe-latter from'the housing, by, opening the, same betweenthe.valve member andruppermember. 73E the valve disc may :betakenapartandreconditioned or a new valve disc or parts may be providedv andinserted within` the valve 1v yby thev reverse process.. Should thevalve stem: break inthe process; of ,t1-,ying to extract,..the .disc orshouldit have beenpprevio usly broken,l o nlyxthe bonnet and upper pieceofthe broken-stem vcanbe removed at, iirst.l Suitable tools may be;employed, being attached tothe threadedyend ofthe stemmember 57,1.andypassed through the pressure housing after yassemblythereof and openingof thevalve member 72, fortgettingA holdof. the brokenpiece of stemfor`the disc .;lor,=` extractionM of. the-latter. Or, it may be-:possibletowithdraw the brokenfstem lpiece from the, nut element by unscrewingthe same therefrom, in which case theinside of the nut element may thenbe engaged by a threaded attachment-1.,` or :otlienmeans dioryentr-action A of the parts. If a valve part isrhrokempthe remaining'piece and any other .valve [part remaining, can be shed outfafterare- Itis. therefore evident; that..unique-fmeansoareproyided forfopeuing,4 ofyvalves5 .underffullsv-l-ine pressureuandr-re'- moval `rand:Y replacementof 1 internal; parte. includingx A'the valvedisc-,tsel which.l lillsaVlongtime need in-zindustryt particularlythe-oi1 producing. industry.

, Although aspecial conduit type gate valvefhaszfbeen illustrated,-,theAbroad concept oft the inventionismotatovbe restricted. to that valve,:but maybe-.applied toothertgate valves, ofthe conduittype. or otherwiseand :generallyl to other,l valves. openable atI the: ytop forwithdrawal; of; :the valve dise and internal; parts. l

It should bey evident from-the abovethat inzviewY of; the constructionofthe, present invention;A arnewamethod is provided? for. removal of.internal` valve vparts undemuid pressure.

The invention is of coursercapable of being-,appliedin many. ways `and.thereforefshouldbelimited onlyybyrfthe termsI oli the-V. appendedclaims. fallingV within: thefbroad spiritv thereofl asV illustrated-and-setforth in `thea spcicaf tion.

, .-I-claim:

l. Incombination with atva'lveA body :a1-substantially uidtight. housingconnected toY said, valvebody;v incsub.- stantial1ytluid Atight relationtherewith, said -housingfcomf prising atleasta gate valve and upperhollow means, said gatevalve being belowl said upper. lollowpmeansfysaid housingincludingl reciprocally movable means;r extending through.,the,- topofthe upper hollow means;l and: -1no,vab.le through the. gatevalve -whenthelatter valve is; in :open position, al removable; bonnetnormally invuid -tight :rela-f tion with saidvalve. body, a. valve-.-stempassing :through said bonnet and a valvevdisc4 connected torthe.valve :stem beloweitsfpassage through; theA bonnet,I said-reeiprocallymovable? means being*V =contactable with -thensaidA bonnet whenthe. gatevalve o the substantially.V iluid ,tight-housing isopemthe lengthfof:`the housing above-the closures-mem-I berl oithe. gate valve-beingsutlfcientv to i containthevalve stem-,rebonnet and valvedisc when',drawn-awayqfrfomthe valve body and up into the housing as aunit;.wherefeas.- ib1ea.-,pair, of elongated take-up meanssecured tosaid valvebodyand; extending `along' opposite sides ofthe saidhousingyand .reeiprocal'ly vmovable Ameans thereof; tie bar` meansroonnectingythe upper portionsv ofthe take-up means andi-adapted; to`engage-the said' reciprocally.,movV able means; in tightgrippingclamped relation, arsecondi pair ofelongated takefupvmeans secured tothesaid valve body. Iand extending-.along opposite sides `of` saidy housingand reciproca-lly-movablemeans, secondwtie bar means connecting ltheVguppen` portions. of saidf. secondi* pair: of elongated take up/.means,said second tie? bar meansfalso being adapted to; engage the-` said`reciproca'lly movablev meansin tight .gripping-',vclampedrelation,saidfsecond takefupmeans and secondfftiefbar means being-disposedt anangle relative to the `frstso as` vnot tozfinterfereawithz the same,one'pair: ofty said: take-up meanszbeingeflonger than thei other so thatthe-connecting tie barmeansenf gageable with, the i reciprocallymovablemeans.` at at point' above, the .point of ,engagement between,theotherftie. bar means andthe reciprocallymovable means and-.connecteing the, said other takey up` meansand-theffreciprocally movable means,eachpair` ofttake uprmeans beingadapted to` apply a downward forcevonrsaid--reciprocallymovable;- means4 through their. `respective tiebarmeansffwhen-.in clamped relation 1 vwithmthe, t said reciprocallymovable. means.

, 2. In lcombinationwithf a valve body providedwithtex-` ternalthreading4 adjacent the upper end a'su'bstantially` uid tighthousingconnectedto4 said valve"` body` in; sl-11:.-v stantially iluid.tight relation therewith, :said honsingr-com-l rising a lower, tubularlmember threadedlv'zengagingkthe saidexternal threadingofthervalveablody, a gate valveand upper. hollowmeans said gate.,valvebeihg eonnecte'dfbe.-l tween:A the `said lower``tubularmembersandupper hollow means. of .'thehousing, said-housinginchldngrareciprojcalllymovable, steinx member-extending .throught`th.-topz: off

7 Athe-upper hollow means and movable through the gate valve and lowermember when the gate valve is in open position, an elongated memberconnected to the said stem member at the lower end thereof andreciprocally movable therewith, .a removable bonnet normally resting ontopV of the said valve body, a valve stem passing through said bonnetand a valve disc connected to the valve stem below its passage throughthe bonnet, said elongated member at the vlower end of the aforesaidstem member being secured to the bonnet and extending over the saidvalve stern, the length of the housing above the closure member of thegate valve being suicient to contain the valve stem, bonnet and valvedisc when drawn away from the valve 'body and up into the housing by thestem member upon upward force` being applied to the latter, a pair ofelongated take up means secured to said valve body and extending alongopposite sides of said housing andstern member thereof, tie bar meansconnecting the upper portions of the take up means and adapted to engagethe stem member in tight gripping clamped relation, a second pair ofelongated take-up means secured to the said valve body and extendingalong opposite sides of said housing and stem member thereof, second tiebar means connecting the upper portions of said second pair of elongatedtake up means, said second tie bar means also being adapted to engagethe stem mem. ber in tight gripping clamped relation, said second takeup means and second tie bar means being disposed at an angle relative tothe lirst so as not to interfere with the same, one of said take upmeans being longer than the other so as to be engageable with the stemmember at a point above the point of engagement between the said Y othertie bar means and stern member, the space between the two tie bar meansbeing suicient to allow placement of at least the gate valve and upperhollow means in turn therebetween, each pair of take up means beingadapted to apply a downward force on said stem member through said tiebar means when in clamped relation with the stern member. Y

3. In combination with a valve body, a substantially uid tight housingconnected to said valve body in substantially uid tight relationtherewith, said housing cornprising at least a gate valve and upperhollow means, said gate valve being below said upper hollow means, saidhousing including reciprocally movable means extending through the topof the upper hollow means and movable through the gate valve when thelatter valve is in open position, a removable bonnet normally in uidtight relation with said -valve body, a valve stem passing through saidbonnet and a valve disc connected to the valve stern below its passagethrough the bonnet, said reciprocally movable means being contactablewith the said bonnet when the gate valve of the substantially fluidtight housing is open, the length of the housing above the closuremember of the vgate valve being suicient to contain the valve stem,bonnet and valve disc when drawn 'away from the valve body and up intothe housing as a unit where feasible, attachment means extending aroundthe lower part of the valve body in engagement therewith, a pair ofelongated take up means attached to said attachment means one at eachside thereof and extending along opposite sides of the housing andreciprocally movablemeans thereof, tie bar means connecting the upperportions of the take up means and adapted to engage the reciprocallymovable means in tight gripping clamped relation, said elongated take upmeans being connected at the top to opposite ends of the tie bar means,a pair of attachment means extending around'thevalve body at oppositesides thereof, a second pairof elongated take up means attached to thelatter attachment'means, one to each one of the pair, and extendingalong opposite sides of said housing and reciprocally movable meansthereof, second tie bar means adapted to engage the reciprocally movablemeans in tight gripping clamped relation, said second pair of elongatedtake up meansbeing. connected at the top `to opposite ends of the 8 isecond tie bar means, said second take up means and second tie barmeansbeing disposed `at an angle relative to the first so as not tointerfere with the same, said one pair of take up means beinglonger thanthe other so'thatthe connected tie bar means is engageable with thereciprocally movable means at a point above the point of engagementbetween the said other tie bar means and reciprocally movable means, thespace between the two tie bar means being suflicient to allow placementof at least the gate valve and upper hollow means in turn therebetween,each pair of take up means being adapted to apply a downward force onsaid reciprocally movable means through said tie bar means when inclamped relation with the reciprocally movable means.

4. The subject matter of claim 1, each of said elongated take up meanscomprising a turnbuckle nut and eye bolts extending therefrom atopposite ends.

5. The method of removing valve parts under pressure of a valve having abody, a removable bonnet in fluid tight relation with the body, a valvestem pas-sing through the bonnet, a valve disc attached to the sternbelow its passage through the bonnet and means for securing the bonnetin the fluid tight relation with the body, said method comprising thesteps of securing the valve bonnet against upward movement by theapplication of downward force thereon, removal of the securing means ofthe bonnet while maintaining the tight engagement of the bonnet with thebody by continued downward force on the bonnet, mounting -substantiallyfluid tight means on the body over the bonnet and valve stem insubstantially fluid tight relation with the valve body while continuingthe downward force on the bonnet, ceasing the downward force on thebonnet and applying upward force on the bonnet moving the latter and atleast a portion of the valve stem, and any parts attached to the valvestem such as the valve disc, upwardly and away from the valvebody andbeyond a close off place in the substantially fluid tight means, causingthe latter nid tight means to be closed against fluid pressure acrossits entire extent at the place of close o, opening the substantiallyluid tight means above the place of close off and removal of the valveparts therein contained.

6. The method of removing valve parts under pressure of a valve having abody provided with external threading adjacent the upper end, aremovable bonnet resting on top of the body, a valve stem passingthrough the bonnet, a valve disc attached to the stem below its passagethrough the bonnet and a bonnet ring threadedly engaging the threads ofthe body and extending over a portion of the bonnet whereby to retainthe bonnet in tight engagement with the body, said method comprising thesteps of securing the valve bonnet against upward movement by theapplication of downward force thereon, unscrewing the bonnet ring fromthe valve body and removal of it fromengagement with the bonnet and fromthe valve while maintaining the tight engagement of the bonnet with thelbody by continued downward force on the bonnet, mounting substantiallyuid tight means on the body over the bonnet and valve stem by threadedlyengaging the means on the threads of the valve body while maintainingthe downward force on the bonnet, ceasing the downward force on thebonnet and applying upward force on the bonnet moving the latter and atleast a portion of the valve stem and any parts attached to the valvestem such as the valve disc upwardly and away from the valve body andbeyond a close off place in the substantially fluid tight means, causingthe latter fluid tight means to beclosed against fluid pressure acrossits entire extent at the place of close off, opening the substantiallyfluid tight means above the place of clse off and'removal of the valveparts therein containe i References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTSr

